Sparklehorse

Sparklehorse 组建于1994年底，是来自美国维吉尼亚的独立乐队。 多年前，一位美国青年在英国一家旅馆里因耽溺嗑药过量而终至崩溃，陷入了濒临疯狂边缘的燥郁症患者，结果他还因那次的崩溃让他的上身一直压着双脚长达数小时之久，导致最后下半身终身瘫痪而必须倚靠轮椅来度过余生。这位残疾的青年不是别人，正是Sparklehorse的首脑人物Mark Linkous。然而，Mark Linkous的故事虽让人读来悲惨感伤，但说真的，Linkous并不需要藉此骗钱赚人热泪或暗中鼓励人们多去义捐购买他的专辑，好让他可以从此不必再如此痛苦挹郁不绝。相反的，就因他这身已注定残缺的身躯与灵魂驱策着他，让他反而更能超越常人的观点而看清了人世间的真假虚伪、衰败腐朽以及死亡。Sparklehors的音乐做的出奇的美，——而且是种奇异的美，他们的灵感源于实际存在的声响和空间经验主义。Sparklehorse的音乐是可以感动你一下午的。那种阴郁的对生活的眷恋，一旦穿透了演唱上的萎靡以及吉他演奏上的舒缓乏力，还是会让你感受到其音乐深处的孔武。
大事记
1996年，Sparklehorse名副其实地以乡村迷幻式的忧伤和美丽，发行了他们的第一张专辑《Viva Dixie Submarine Transmission Plot》
1998年，发行了第二张专辑《Good Morning Spider》承接前面一张《Viva Dixie Submarine Transmission Plot》的Sparklehorse依然风采迷人——九八年的这张《Good Morning Spider》证明了田园音乐诗人Mark Linkous的艺术天赋并不因为加入大厂牌便失色。然而把它与上张专辑相比是必然的事情，因为它不仅延续了前者印象派油画般的音乐创作手法，而且在音乐制作和编排上也显得更为精雕细琢。
2000年，发行了EP《Distorted Ghost》
2001年，发行了第三张专辑《It's a Wonderful Life》给《It's a Wonderful Life》一个最好的诠释：在最怪异的时候，只要活着就很美好。
2006年，发行了第四张专辑《Dreamt For Light Years In the Belly of a Mountain》。
Sparklehorse was essentially singer/songwriter Mark Linkous, an alumnus of the mid-80s indie band the Dancing Hoods. A tenure in the Johnson Family (later known as Salt Chuck Mary) followed, as did stints sweeping chimneys and painting houses; he began working as Sparklehorse in 1995, honing his spooky, lo-fi roots-pop in the studio located on his Bremo Bluff, VA, farm. After a demo made its way to the offices of Capitol Records, Linkous signed to the label to issue Sparklehorses acclaimed debut Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, scoring an alternative radio hit with the single Someday I Will Treat You Good. In early 1996, after a Sparklehorse live date in London, Linkous nearly died when he passed out after mixing Valium with prescription antidepressants; throughout the 14 hours he spent unconscious on his hotels bathroom floor his legs were pinned under the rest of his body, and the prolonged loss of blood circulation nearly left him crippled. Many months and countless surgeries later he was back on his feet, his struggle and recovery providing inspiration for 1998s Good Morning Spider. Linkous collaborated with PJ Harvey and the Cardigans Nina Persson on 2001s radiant Its a Wonderful Life. In between that album and 2006s Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain (which featured contributions from Tom Waits and Danger Mouse), Linkous contributed songs to the soundtrack of the film Laurel Canyon and produced Daniel Johnstons 2003 album Fear Yourself.